Mousetrap



Dec. 2, 1952 A. c. PARKHURST MOUSETRAP Filed Sept; 6, 1949 1N VEN TOR.

germ/e C file/(#0257 ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 2, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT 'OFFICE MOUSETRAP Arthur C. Parkhurst, Denver, Colo.

Application September 6, 1949, Serial No. 114,204

1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to a mouse trap, and has for its principal object the provision of a mouse trap which will be much more sensitive than present mouse traps, and which will be so constructed that it will be impossible for a rodent to reach the bait without setting off the trap.

Another object of the invention is to construct a mouse trap of the treadle spring type which can be set and baited without danger to the fingers.

A further object is to so construct the trap that it can be economically stamped from sheet metal.

Other objects and advantages resid in the detail construction of the invention, which is designed for simplicity, economy, and efficiency. These will become more apparent from the following description.

In the following detailed description of the invention, referenc is had to the accompanying drawing which forms a part hereof. Like numerals refer to like parts in all views of the drawing and throughout the description.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective View of the improved mouse trap in the set position;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the trap in the set and locked position;

Fig. 3 is a plan view thereof in the released position; and

Fig. 4 is an end view thereof in the position of Fig. 2.

The improved trap is founded on a unitary blank of sheet metal cut and formed to produce an elongated, rectangular, flat bottom plate I!) which is turned upwardly alon its rear edge to form an end flange H, and along its side edges to form side flanges E2. The ends of both the end flange H and the side flanges I2 are beveled on an incline to avoid sharp corners, as indicated in Fig. 1,.

A rectangular treadle plate I3 is positioned between the side flanges l2 and is mounted at its inner edge on a transversally extending hinge pin M. The rear extremity of the treadle plate is turned upwardly to form a locking flange IS. A wire bait loop I! havin an inverted U-shape is soldered or otherwise secured to the treadle plate I3 forwardly of the flange It. The extremities of the hinge pin I4 extend outwardly through openings in the side flanges l2 immediately above the bottom [8 to form a hinged mounting for the treadle plate i3.

A spring shaft it: extends transversally across the trap and projects through bearing openings in the side flanges I2. The shaft is positioned 2 above and slightly rearwardly from the hinge pin M.

A wire-like, U-shaped trap jaw member I8 is wound adjacent its two extremities, as shown at l9, about the shaft lb. The latter two extremities then extend within the U-shaped trap jaw it? and in substantially the same plane therewith and are then turned inwardly toward each other to form hooked ends 29 which overlie the extremities 2i of coil springs 22.

The coils of the springs 22 surround the shaft is and extend forwardly at their inner extremities to form pressure ends 23 for the spring. The pressure ends 23 act downwardly against the bottom plate i3, and the other ends 2! act upwardly against the hooked extremities 26 of the trap jaw member 58. The jaw member i8 is also formed from resilient spring wir so that there is a secondary spring actionin the wound portions I9 and in the projecting hooked ends 20 thereof.

The jaw member is held in the set position of Figs. 1 and 2 by means of a trigger wire 24. The trigger wir is downwardly looped at its one extremity, as shown at 25, and this loop is locked through a receiving opening 26 in the flange H to hingedly mount the trigger wire 24 thereon. The other extremity of the trigger wire extends into a trigger opening 2'6 in the flange I6 and bears against a stop tongue 28. The stop tongue 28 is formed by indenting the metal of the flange i6 forwardly so as to produce the trigger opening 21.

The bottom plate H3 is provided with a finger opening 29 below the treadle plate 13, and with a finger notch 36 below the free extremity of the treadle plate.

Let us assume that bait has been placed under the bait loop II. It will be noted that it is impossible for a rodent to reach this bait without depressing the treadle plate. This is due, first, to the fact that the treadle plate covers the complete width of the bottom plate so that the rodent cannot rest his weight upon the latter; second, to the fact that the relatively high side flanges l2 prevent the rodent from reaching the bait from the sides of the trap. The mouse must bottom plate by inserting; the finger therethrough,

so that the fingers are never in the path of the spring jaw [8.

To still further enhance the safety of the improved trap, a bowed locking wire 3| is inserted,

through both the side flanges l2 beneath the treadle plate I3 immediately abovethe bottom 1 The wire 3| is bent at its one extremity,

plate 10. as shown at 32, to prevent its being withdrawn from the trap. The other extremity of the wire 3| is bent at right angles to form a handle 31 on, the side of oneqof the side flanges l2.

to, form a yerticalstopmember 38 and a vhorizontal; stop member 39 which stop the handlein the. Vertical, and horizontal positions, respectively.

The wire 3| is bowed between the side flanges in the plane of the handle 31 so that when the handle is turned to the vertical position (against the-stop member 38), as shown in Figs. 2 and'3, the treadle plate is locked to prevent accidental setting-elf of the trap. When the handle is turned to the horizontalv position (against the stop member .39), the bowedportion of the wire 3 l lies upon the bottomplate I0 out of the wayof thetreadle plate-i3 so that the trap will be released for use.

While a specific form of the improvement has been described and illustrated herein, it is to be understood that the same may be varied, within The metal of the latter side flanges is cut andbentw the scope of the appended claim, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed and desired secured by Letters Patent is:

Means for preventing accidental actuation of a mouse trap of the depressible treadle plate ty e wherein downward pressure on the treadle occasions release of a striker member, comprising: a, base plate; an upturned side flange on each side of said basecplate a treadle mountedvfo'r pivotal movement between'the side'flanges above the base plate; a locking wire rotatably mounted in and extending between said side flanges, said locking wire being formed with an arcuate bow throughout its length between said flanges; a handle formed'on-one extremity of said wire in the plane of said bow and on the exterior of one of said side flanges; and stop members formed on said latter side flange in the path of said handle to limit the rotation of said bow to an arc of 90.

ARTHUR/C. PARIfl-IURST:

REFERENCES .CITED The following, references are of" record inthe file of this patent:

UNITED. STATES PATENTS.

Number Name Dater 628,831 Morgan July- 11,1899 640,244 Wever Jan. 2,1900 988,259 Fauls Mar.'28,l1911 1,067,526 Larison Ju1y 15, .1913-" 1,3103% Howe 1 July'-15-, -l919 1,709,199 Thayer Apr.- 16,1929 1 1,726,367 Seghers Aug;27, 1929"- 1,861,479 Klefiman June 7, 1932" 1,868,714 Mills July'26, 1932 2,144,956- Arndt Jan.- 24. 1939 2,321,617 Peterson June 15, 1943- 2,590,316- Heal Mar. 25, 1952 

